I was recently commissioned to clean up and engrave a few of bourbon barrel lids and the process was really fun and the customer loved the end product.
He and his wife had just returned from taking in a few of the distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and wanted to commemorate their visit by decorating their home with a few of these custom, authentic bourbon barrel lids.
What Size and What Type of Wood are the Lids Made From?
Although all bourbon barrel lids are going to have their own unique character, they are all 21" in diameter, all made of oak and just over one inch thick. That makes for a sizable piece of wall art! Each lid is made up of several slats of oak, all varying in widths from 2" to 4" but not all of the slats are perfectly parallel.
What are the names of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Regions?
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail TM currently includes 46 distilleries in 6 adjoining regions. There are a variety of tours on the trail which include tastings, exhibits and interactive tours.
The Boubon Trail Regions are named the Northern, Central, Western, Lexington, Louisville, and Bardstown Regions and are all located in central Kentucky.
Is Whiskey Made in Oak Barrels too?
Most bourbon barrel lids, made of oak, are used only one time by the distillers and are therefore very easy to find on Facebook Marketplace, Etsy or your local distillery. The lids are normally charred on one side to impart flavor. Whiskey is also aged in Oak Barrels but those barrels are not often charred.
What is the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey?
Whiskey is a general term for an alcoholic beverage made from fermented grains, while bourbon is a type of whiskey made from a grain mixture that's at least 51% corn. Bourbon is typically aged in charred oak barrels, which gives it a distinctive flavor profile.
What is the Process of Engraving a Bourbon Barrel Lid?
The process to engrave your custom boubon barrel lid begins with fully disassembling the lid and a heavy cleanup and sanding of all pieces and both surfaces. The charred underside of the lid is cleaned and sanded but I do not remove all of the charring as it would add significantly to the time involved and that side is hidden once the piece is hung on your favorite wall.
Once all the pieces are cleaned and sanded, I reassemble and glue them all back together. Note that the oak slats have been through exposure to charring, pressure and moisture for a minimum of two years and in many cases much longer.
When I receive the lids from my dealer they are shipped assembled (as can be seen in the photo below) but the slats are not glued together. The tremendous pressure from the barrel hoops alone holds the slats together. Therefore becuase I can't apply the same amount of pressure as the factory, after cleaning and sanding all surfaces, therre are some gaps in the slats after reassembly.
As can be seen from the progress photos, the top of the lid is sanded fairly heavily to remove staining and general debris but I do leave some of the character of the lid as I feel that this adds immensly to its charm.
Does the Bourbon Barrel Lid Smell Like Bourbon?
Yes! The lids do have a slight bourbon smell to them (which I think adds to the charm!). Note that it is in no way overpowering and just having one of these lids in a room will not make the room smell like bourbon :). There is an authentic, woodsy, smoky, bourbon smell the closer you get your nose to the lid. And note: This is why I do not add any type of stain, oil or any other product to the finished bourbon barrel lids. The natural aroma of the lid is yet another reason why you will love giving and receiving one of these custom engraved bourbon barrel lids!
How Does the Bourbon Barrel Lid Design Process Work?
Pricing below includes the lid, design time for whatever graphic you would like engraved on the top, and digital mockups sent for your approval before production.
When you place your order I will reach out (please leave an email or phone number) to discuss what design you would like. It's then that we would discusss what you would like engraved on the top.
Note that you don't need ANY design experience :). Leave that to me! All design work is done in house and I've worked with hundreds of clients since 2021 designing custom cutting boards, lake signs, ornaments and more. So there are absolutely no worries if you're not completely sure how you want the design to look.
Generally, if you can give me the name of your favorite whiskey or bourbon or whatever writing you want on top of the lid, I can send over concepts and ideas until we both arrive at what you are after.
I have many, many fonts and typefaces and can easily find graphics of your favorite bourbon, whiskey, team, state, etc... The sky is the limit.
How Long Does it Take for Me to Get My Order?
On custom laser engraving orders, it generally takes about two weeks from order to shipping. Once you place your order we will contact you within 24 hours to discuss your design ideas. Then, within a day or two we will have a few digital designs to email (or text) you. Once the design processis complete your order is put in the queue and you can expect shipment in about a week.